Reading-training device



Dec. 15, 1953 A. J. MCMASTER READING-TRAINING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. l, 1950 Dec. 15, 1953 2,662,306-

A. J. MCMASTER READING-TRAINING DEVICE Filed Sept. l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z0 /fj l l I ja .53 4a /00 f77 den-fo 2".' ARCHIE J. MGMASTER.

Dec. 15, 1953 A. J. MGMASTER READING-TRAINING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. l, 1950 NQ E Dec. 15, 1953 A. J. McMAsTr-:R 2,662,306

READING-TRAINING DEVICE Filed Sept. l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 15, 1953 READING-TRAINING DEVICE Archie J. McMaster, Deerfield, Ill., assignor to Elizabeth A. Simpson Application September 1, 1950, Serial No. 182,743

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in reading-training devices. The invention is more particularly concerned with devices for improving reading speed wherein successive lines of a printed or written page are continuously masked olf in order to prevent re-reading of material previously read.

A device for improving reading speed of the general type with which the present invention is concerned is described in the copending application of Elizabeth A. Simpson, filed February 18, 1949, Serial Number 77,235, now forfeited and the continuation-in-part thereof led April 1S, 1951, Serial Number 221,558. As pointed out in this copending application, it is an established technique in the promotion of reading eiiciency to continuously cover the material being read with a mask or shutter in order to aid the ineicient reader to become accomplished in absorbing and understanding printed material upon a single perusal thereof, since it is now known that the most common difficulty in obtaining efciency in reading is that the inefficient reader is prone to re-read fragments of material a number of times. The copending application referred to describes a machine for use in such training for speedy and eincient reading.

The present invention lies in an improved machine of the type generally described above. It is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine of this type which is simple and inexpensive in construction and yet is suitable for employment with many types of reading matter, including books, magazines, cards, etc., of a large variety of sizes and thicknesses. object of the invention to provide such a machine wherein ease and simplicity of assembly, operation, and maintenance are maximized. In pursuance to these general objects, the invention provides a novel arrangement whereby diverse types and sizes of reading materials may be employed with the machine with suitable adjustments for sizes and thicknesses of materials which the user employs for practice in developing his reading skills. The invention further provides a novel type of drive mechanism for driving the mask or shutter over the printed page at a constant speed which is easily set and varied to meet the particular needs and level of accomplishment of the reader. The invention further provides a structure including a nexible shutter and a drive mechanism and mounting therefor such that the shutter may easily be replaced after continued wear has rendered it unsatisfactory for further use. The invention It is a further further provides a number of safeguards against misuse of the device by the user, particularly safeguards preventing damage to the mechanism due to such misuse. Additionally, as will more fully appear hereinafter, the invention affords other features of construction and mode of operation which contribute to the general objects stated above.

For complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the attached drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of a machine for use in improving reading speed made in accordance with the invention, illustrating a sample of reading material placed thereon for use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1 with the cover thereof removed, the parts being illustrated in the position wherein the masking curtain employed as a shutter completely covers the reading material being employed;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 in the ldirection indicated by arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a position of the parts wherein the shutter is Withdrawn to the top of the reading material being used for practice;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig, 3 in the direction indicated by arrows and illustrating the pivotal mounting of a shutter guide constituting a portion of the machine upon the y frame thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 3

in the direction indicated by arrows and illustrating the manner of mounting of a reading material support constituting a portion of the machine upon the frame;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken along the line 'i-'l of Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which the shutter is guided by the shutter guide;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3 in the direction indicated by arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 8 in the direction indicated by arrows;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 1 view taken along the line |0 |0 of Fig. 8 in the direction indicated by arrows;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of an idler wheel assembly taken along the line H Il of Fig. 10 in the direction indicated by arrows; and

Referring now to the drawing, the machine generally comprises a housing or frame I0 from which extends a shutter I 2, of the flexible opaque curtain type, the outer end I4.of the shutter I2 being driven outwardly from the frame or housing |0 over a shutter guide I6, which is pivoted l0 on the frame I0 and rests on the book or other reading material I8 being employed, which in turn rests upon a reading material supportboard 20, the inner end of which is pivoted on the housing I0 and the outer end of which rests upon' aY l5 table or other similar support upon which the machine is placed for use, the. outer. end: being. provided with an upward lip 24, adaptedto support the lower edge of the reading material; The

speed at which the shutter I2 is moved over the 2o reading material is controlled' by manual movement of a speed control generally designated by the numeral 28, control 26' having a hairline indicator 28 whose position along a calibrated scale 30 on the top cover 32a of the housing indicates 25 the speed at which the machine is being operated; When the outer edge |4 of the shutter I2 reaches the outer edge of the guide I6, whichfissubstan'f tiallyVV coextensive with the board a-nd completely covers the-page of the reading material '1` I8, the lower end of the guide I5 may beliftedfor turning-the page of` the book or other reading material I8. The lower edge |4- ofthe shutter isthen restored to the top-ofthe-page by manual rotation of a crank 34 on the side of the-housing 35.

I'i, anduponrelease of the crank 34 the shutter |-2 again commences its downward progress over the reading material |8- at the predetermined' speed.

The above generali description of the mode' of 40:

operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated will serve to clarify understanding of the particular features of construction andop-V erationI thereof to be described.- The housing I0 comprisestwo diecast side-plates 36a and-365;

moveable partsof the machine to b'eA described 50 hereinafter. Each side plate 36a and 36h' hasV along the back, top and upper end-of-V the front edge an` inwardly extending shoulder portion 40 and. along the bottom and lower end of thefrontVlr edge a similarshoulder 4|. There is a gap between theshoulder portions- 40i and 41|- at theY lower rear corner oi theV plates 36aand36b': Two sheet metal covers 32a and 32D, bent respectively toconform with the back, top and upper front edgev of the plates 36a and 36h and ther bottom andlowerfront edge of the platesv 36a andA 3611,' and of a width adapted to't ontotheirshoulders 401and 4i|-of the opposite plates-36a and 36h-are secured inplace by the engagement of their ends 44, bent into the form of circles, uponlugsprovided at theends of the shoulders 40l and 4I'. The sheet metal .top cover 32a.and1bottomrcover 32h are suciently resilient soA that the end portions- 4'4 may be disengaged from the' lugs-45to remove therespeotive top and bottom covers 32a-and 32171 and thus expose thelmechanism` for servicing.

Journalled in the side plates 36a and 36h isa shaft -traversing the entire width of the framev I0., Afxedstolthe shaftv 50visa drum 52 along-75-4 the axis of which the shaft 50 extends. The drum 52 illustrated is constructed in a manner similar to an ordinary paint can, having a sealed end 54 and a removable pressed-on lid 56. A hub 58 fastened centrally of the lid 56 secures the can 52 to the shaft 50, which extends through a grommet 60 in the sealed end 54 and which further extends through a boss 62 which is lined with a bearing 64 to the exterior` of the housing I0. Sidewise motion of the shaft 50 is prevented by a washer 66 which prevents thrust movement.

At the outer end of the shaft 50 is a circular crank member 34 which is hollow on the side adjacent to the side plate 36a, and is provided with a crankehandle orknob 10. On the interior of the hollow crank member 34 is formed a rib '12.` adaptedto engage lugs or stops I4 and 16, formed on the outer surface of the side plate 36a for purposes hereinafter to be described.

Protruding from the drum 52, and defining a linepara'llel' with the shaft 50', are two lugs T8,

rivetedto= the wall of the drum 52, as shown in Fig; 112. The lugs-T''engage apertures or perforations near the innerl end of the masking cur'- tainor shutter I2'. The curtain or shutter |'2 consists of a rectangular sheet of heavy' paper or fiber which is wound upon the drum 52, thecuter' end thereof coming tangentiall'y off' the drum forwardly of the top of thedrum 82landextending from the housing I0-near the top of the gap which exists between the upper end of the lower cover 32D and the lower end of the top coverA 32a. Secure engagementof the'ap'ertures-or perforations 80'on the lugsy 'I8 isy assured by two re-A taining bands90"in the formA of wires having one end secured tothe tie rod 38- slightly above the tangential portion of the shutter curtain- |22 and the oppositev end'secured to the tie rod 38'1, slightly below the tangential portion' of` the shutter curtain I2', the retaining bands-90 being wrapped fairly tightly around the entire drum except'for the gap` between the endsthereof wherein the tangential portion ofi the shutterv extends out" through the front-wall4l off the housing. The retaining-bandsv -thus serve both'to keep the aperwhich` are connectedby transversely extending 40 t'ures'lliin secure engagement withthe lugs 78; and also to insure against-slackness of winding ofthe shutter |25 on the drum 52'-, thus preventing` any lack of correspondence between motion oftheouter end |41" of theshutter I2 and rotation ofthe drum. 52.

lThe outer end |4-of the shutter I2, exterior to the housing I0; runs along theguide I6 which consists of sidechanner members 92 to which isrsecured a transverse outer end membery 94'. Theout'er end member 94 has a slot 96`extending therethrough across the widthV thereof to permit use of the machine with tachistoscopic attachments-such as described in the copending application of Elizabeth A.' Simpson mentioned above. The innerends" of the side membersl 92" of the guide I6' have pivot lugs 98l extending therefrom which arejournalledv in corresponding' cups |00formed inthe-side walls 36a and 36D of Lthehousing |0 TheV guide members 92 are in 5 therfornrofchannels, the'lower webs |02 extend'- ingfurther inwardly than the upper webs |04. The curtain I2 has the outer edges thereof resting onthe lower and wider webs |02 but is narrower than-the space between the upper websV |04. The outer' end I4 of the shutter curtain I2 isV clamped between a lower bar |06",4 which isof aY length greater than the width of the shutter |2` andthe ends of which accordingly are between the upper web |04andfthe'lower web |02'of Vthe channel members ez, and an upper bar |08 which extends only to the sides of the shutter curtain I2, the upper bar |08 being secured to the lower bar |06 by thumb-nuts I|0 engaging screws II2 which are riveted to the lower bar |06 and which extend through apertures provided for this purpose in the end of the shutter curtain i2 and in the upper bar I 08. Across the guide I6 extends a stop member IIfl, the outer ends of which engage the outer surface of the side channel members S2 in sliding fashion so that the transversely extending stop member I Ill may be moved to any point along the guide I6, locking of the stop I|4 into position being accomplished by means of a thumb-screw IIS. The stop member II4 is manually adjusted to engage the thumbnuts |I to nx the inner position of the curtain shutter I2 to correspond with the top line of printing or writing of the reading material employed. The forward portion of the upper surface of the stop member I I4 is upwardly recessed or offset at H5 to permit the nuts IIO to slide closely under the forward portion II5 until engaged by the main body portion of the stop IIll.

Thus the application of excessive force on the f crank 34 in resetting the shutter will not bend or twist the outer end of the lower bar |06, since abutment of the nuts I i0 against the under surface of the portion H5 prevents the application of the twisting torque to bar |06 which would result if the forward edge of the stop |I4 were to engage the nuts IIO or other .projections on the shutter.

It will be seen that when the crank 313 is manually rotated to reset the shutter I2, the shutter :4'

will commence its new passage over the material at the exact top of the page for which the step I I4 has been preset. It will further be seen that the stop I Ill when in a normal operating position (i. e. a position corresponding to the size of read ing materials normally encountered) will maintain the side members 92 of the guide it in the spread position wherein the pivots 92 are securely engaged in the recesses |00 in the housing. However, if it is desired to remove the guide I5 from the housing, the stop IM may be moved to the outer end of the side channels 92, and very slight inward bending of the side channels 92 permits disengagement of the pivots 93 from the recesses |09. The shutter I2 may be freed from the guide It merely by removal of thumb-nuts ||0 and disengagement of the shutter. I2 from the lower bar it. The structure of the charinel 92 wherein the lower web |02 is wider than the upper web |04 permits the shutter i2 to be thus readily disengaged from the guide IS but nevertheless insures that the shutter curtain I2 will not sag through the guide I6 onto the reading matter. Thus again it is assured that 'the outer end I :l of the shutter I2 will move at all times in accordance with the rotation of the drum 52.

The support board upon which the reading material rests comprises a piece of sheet metal having downwardly bent sides I I8 between which are mounted tubular members |20 of a material such as rubber, mounted on shafts I2I, the members |20 thus serving as feet or support wheels for the board 20. Longitudinal webs 22 formed on a sheet-metal plate |23 secured to the under surface of the board 20 are disposed inwardly of the respective sides I I8, and U-shaped extensions |24 have the legs thereof extending through apertures in the sides |I8 and the webs |22 so that the extensions |24 may be slid substantially 5 into the board as shown in Fig. 2, or may b withdrawn from the board to accommodate large sized reading material, as shown in Fig. 1, the outermost position of each extension member |24 being xed by abutment of cotter pins |30, inserted through the legs of the extension meme liaes |24, against the inner surfaces of the webs At the upper or inner end of the support board 2Q, which is of reduced width, pivot lugs |32, which constitute the ends of a rod I 34 secured to the board by bending of the inner end |35 thereof, extend laterally outwardly. In the front edges of the inner surfaces of the side plates 36a and 35h are formed a series of vertically spaced inwardly and downwardly sloping slots or notches |20. The inner end of the support board 2t is pivotally supported on the housing I0 by insertion of the lugs |32 into any one of the opposed pairs of slots or notches |42. The pair of slots or notches |20 selected for use depends upon the thickness of the book, magazine or other reading material which is being used, and, in the case of a thick bool: is of course determined by the portion of the book which is being used, the scanning of pages near the back of the book requiring a smaller spacing between the support board 20 and the guide IE then the scanning of pages at the front of the book, where most of the thickness of the book will appear between the board 20 and the guide I6. The user selects a pair of slots Illi appropriate to maintain the guide It and the board 20 parallel when the guide I5 rests on the reading material which is in turn supported by the board 20, the lower end of which rests on the table or desk upon which the machine is placed.

It will be noted in the drawing that the inner ends of the slots Ill!) are not disposed in a vertical line, but are disposed in the shape of an arc, the ends of slots E which are most withdrawn from the front edge of the side plates a and 36h being those more or less central between the pivot point of the guide I6 and the bottom of the machine. In explanation of this arcuate disposition of the ends of the slots |20, which constitute manually selectable support points for the inner end of the support board 20, it is to be pointed out that changing the elevation of the inner end of the support board 20 would effect a relative sliding change of position between the board 253 and the guide I6 if the selectable pivot points for the board 253 were disposed along a straight line. Remembering that the outer end of the support board 20 will rest on the table or other lat support upon which the machine is placed, and further remembering that the reading material placed between these two members will hold them substantially parallel, it may be seen that the change of angle of the support board 20 with reference to the table which would be effected by changing the support point of the inner end of the support board would, if such support points were disposed along a vertical line, produce an effect whereby a plane normal to the support board and extending through the outer edge Ill of the masking curtain or shutter I2, for any given position of the shutter I2 on the guide I6, would intersect diiferent lines on the support board 20. Thus, if the stop IIA were set to make the inner position of the shutter I2 correspond exactly with the commencement of the printed matter on a page in one position of a book the lower edge of whose cover is engaged by the upward flange 24 provided at the lower edge ortheboard 2.a, then as progress ismade through.

the. book, requiring adjustment ofl the; position ofv the. support board 20 to accommodate an increased` or decreased thickness, betweenl the support board20 andthe guide IB, andpermit these membersV to remain parallel, in the new position of the support board the loweredgev I4, of the,

mask I2 would no longer be exactly above the;

commencement of the printed material` on the printed: page, assuming thatl all the, pages are. identicalas to top and bottom margin, etc.y rhus if the selectable positions of the inner end. off the support board 20 were along a vertical line, it would be necessary in using the machine ony different portions of the same book either to adjnstY the stop. H4 or to change the longitudinal p ositionof the book on the board 26 in order to maintain the withdrawn or innermost position of the.v edge of the shutterl I2 in alignment with the commencement of the printed matter. SuchA alignment is necessary in order to prevent masking of the rst few lines on ay page oron the other hand, leaving of a margin permitting the reader to b.- tainA a head start on the printed material.

Upon study, it will be seen; that in order to seport points of the board 2B. should be disposed,

i. e. the shape ofv the arc describing the required distance of withdrawal of the inner end of the support board from the front ofv the machine for various heights of support may be determined by means of trigonometry for any given position of the pivot point of the guide I, and length of the board 25J. More simply, the arc may be constructed with drafting instruments on a scale drawing for any Particular dimensions.

The mechanisml for driving the drum 5,2 at manually selected constant speeds may now be described. Synchronous motor systems employing cone drives for speed variation have hereto.- fore been used in machines o the type withv which the invention is concerned. However, it is` found that in order to drive the masking shutter,v whether of the curtain type herein illustrated, or of the bar type (wherein only the D01- tion of the reading material just above the outer edge of the shutter is masked, the shutter consisting of a bar directly driven by the motive mechanism, or of a bar and rigid or flexible members which are driven by the motive mechanism) the synchronous motor employed as the drive must be of substantial power in order to` produce constant speed stall-free driving ac tion. This problem is aggravated by the fact that the. actual motive mechanism of synchronousy motors ordinarily runs at speeds of the order of 3600 R. P. M. and that the gearing required to bring the speed down to the order of l R. P. M.l introduces a substantial additional load by reason of friction and. inertia of the gearing system. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a synchronous motor of very low power is employed to control the speed at which the shutter is driven, the driving power being supplied by a simple spring which of course could not otherwise drive the shutter at a constant speed. The advantage of this simple and inexpensive mode 0f, operation. arises. from two, sources., in; thefi'irst place, the friction in the gearing is nowremoyed4 from the loady of the; synchronous motor and instead appears as; a load upon the spring, which can ofcourse be; designed forv substantial power at; very little expense; inv the preferred mode of operation; in accordance with the present; embodiment, oi; the invention, the spring not4 only aids the, motor, but, always tends to over-drive the motor, thus preventing irregularity of opera.- tion due.- to back-lash, in the gear train. In the second place, itis found that a synchronous motor is able to maintain its constantl speed against forward torque or force loads which would be easily large enough to.: stall the synchronous ,motor were such torque or force loads applied as backwards or retarding loads. Thus, this aspect. of the invention diminishes both the bulk andex, pense of the synchronous motor employed and also increases: the; reliability of constant speed of operation- With understanding of the basic principle` of the, drive mechanism as described immediately above, the structure of the drive mechanism shown in the drawing and the purpose and ad vantages thereof may be more readily understood. A motor support, bracket |50, is pivoted on the tie rod 38e and is biased in the general direction ofthe drum. 52a by a Spring |52, having one. end secured to,l the bracket; |58Y and other end secured to the tie rod 28d. A synchronous motor assembly comprising synchronous; mQtor |58 and, a speed-reducing gear train |60 are mounted upon the bracket |55. The` synchronous motor assembly is not illustrated in detail in the drawing, since the motor and gear train assembly is ot the type which will readily be recognized by persons skilled in the art as being commercially available from many manufacturers, the motor proper and;y the gear train being incorporated in a single and commercially designated by the mere term synchronous motor" although in fact the assembly contains both a motor and a gear train |61). There are provided a power switch |G| andl an On-Off pilot light |63-, J ournalled in the bracket |59, and having a shaft coupled to the gear train |65 is a, rubber-like generally cone shaped hollow friction gearing member |62` of a hard plastic material. It will thus be seen that the cone member |62 rotates at a constant speed.

Pivotally mounted on the tie rod 38h is av carriage ll' having extended arms |12 which engage, and are slideable on, the tie rod 3812, whichv thus constitutes a track parallel with the axis of, the drum 5.2 upon which the carriage |10 may be moved from side to side. The carriage |10 eig,- tends upwardly through a slot i-'l in the top cover 32a of the housing, sothat the carriage |`-|Q may be moved along the rod 38D manually. The carriage |13 extends through lthe region between,l the drum 52 and the cone |52, and has at the end thereof slotted depending arms |89 defining a yoke or guide, an idler wheel comprising a hub |82 and a rubber or rubber-like tire or liner |54 being disposed in and guided by the yoke so formed, the arms |813 preventing sidewise motion of the idler wheel |82. The idler wheel is on a short shaft |86 which is slideable in the longitudinal slots |88 in the arms. |80, the ends of the shaft |86 being secured to the ends of springs |911 the other ends of which are attached to the c arriage |10 so as to bias the wheel |82 upwardly in the slots |88. The Shaft |86 on the idler wheel |82 and the shaft 50 on the drum 52 are parallel. The axis of the cone |62 is so disposed with respect to the axis of the idler wheel |82 and the drum 52 that the periphery of the idler wheel |82 is in contact with both the cone |62 and the drum 52 (or the portion of the shutter I2 wound thereon) in all positions of the carriage |10 along the tie rod 3&5. A plunger 250 extends downwardly through the carriage |10 but is biased upwardly by a spring 202 into a position wherein a bevelled portion 204 thereon is in tight contact with the rod 38h, thuslocking the carriage |10 in position along the rod 38h. When the outer end of the plunger 200 is pressed, as by the thumb of the user, the inner end of the plunger strikes the wheel i 82 and overcomes the force of the springs 90 to disengage the idler wheel E82 from both the cone |62 and the drum 52. At the same time, the bevelled portion 204 of the plunger 200 is withdrawn from the rod 38h, and the carriage |10 may be freely moved along the rod 38h to set the machine for another speed of passage of the shutter l2 over the reading material.

A spring 2|0 has one end wound upon the hub 58 of the drum 52 and the other end secured to the tie rod 38d. The spring 2|0 provides the actual motive force for driving the drum 52, the balance of the drive mechanism serving as a speed control. It will be seen that the spring 2|0 after manual rotation of the crank 34 to bring the curtain |2 to its uppermost position as determined by the stop ||4 will, upon release of the crank, rotate the drum 52 in a direction to unwind the shutter |2 from the drum (the clockwise direction in Figs. 3 and 10). The small amount of friction which exists between the drum 52 (or the shutter |2) and the tire |84 of the idler wheel, will tend to urge or wedge the idler wheel |82 upwardly between the cone |62 and the drum 52. There is thus assured tight coupling of the cone |62, the idler wheel |82 and the drum 52 as the drum is urged by the spring 2|0 to unwind the shutter |2 from the drum. The drum will thus unwind the shutter at a constant speed which speed may be varied by varying the position of the carriage |10 on the rod 38h. It will be noted that if the cone |62 were a right circular cone, as is common in cone drives, equal increments of motion of the carriage |10 would produce equal increments of speed of the shutter I2. However it is found that in use of a device of the type herein described, a more advanced reader will, with any given time of practice, require a greater increment in the rate of progression of the shutter i2 (in terms of inches per minute or words per minute) than will a slower reader. Therefore the cone is made somewhat concave, describing a solid of revolution about the apex of a curved, rather than a straight line, the curve generating the cone being of the general character of an exponential curve, so that equal movements of the carriage |10 along the rod 38h produce changes of speed more equal to similar units of progress in the various speed ranges than would be the case were the cone |62 a true right circular cone. y

The drum 52 will continue to eject the shutter |2 down through the guide I6 until a protrusion 220 on the periphery of the crank 34, bearing the handle 10, strikes a thumb-screw 222 secured to the outer surface of the side plate 36a.. This point corresponds to the point where the lower end I4 of the shutter |2 is at the bottom or outer end of the guide I6, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the drum 52 thus stops rotating, the frictional force urging the wheel |82 upward between the cone |62 and the drum 52 is withdrawn, and

the continued rotation of the cone |62 tends to drive the idler wheel |82 out of secure engagement with the drum 52. It will be understood that the springs |90 exert extremely small force, barely more than necessary to support the wheel |182 against gravity. Thus the springs |90 do not hold the wheel |82 in secure engagement with the drum 52, the secure and tight engagement being only obtained when the drum 52 is rotating in the direction to feed the shutter 2 outwardly and thus wedging the wheel |82 between the drum 52 and the cone |62. Therefore, when the drum so ceases rotation the friction exerted on it, or upon the portion of the shutter |2 which is actually in contact with the wheel |82, is negligible. Likewise, this friction is suiciently small so that when the crank 34 is manually operated to reset the shutter 2 to the top of its path, this may be done Without damaging, stalling, or otherwise interfering with the continued forward rotation of the cone |62. Upon manual release of the crank 34, after the resetting operation, the idler wheel |82 is again wedged into secure frictional contact with both the cone |62 and the drum 52.

Removal and replacement of the flexible shutter curtain |2 may be done without opening the housing. The extreme forward position ofthe shutter as dictated by engagement of the thumb screw 222 by the protrusion 220 on the crank 34 brings lugs 13 and perforations 80 to the top of the drum 52, as illustrated in the dotted position of lugs '|8 in Fig. 3 (corresponding to the clockwise position of the crank 34 in the same figure) In this position the shutter |2 is still secured to the drum 52. However, by removal of the thumb screw 222, the drum 52 may be rotated beyond this position to the position wherein the lugs IS and perforations 80 are opposite the gap in the retaining bands 00 between the tie rods 38a and 381, and the curtain or shutter l2 is thus easily removed from the drum 52. In this same position, a new shutter |2 may be placed on the drum. The rib 'I2 on the interior of the crank. 'l0 strikes the lug 14 to prevent further manual rotation of the drum 52 which might otherwise wind the spring 2|0 in the wrong direction on the hub 58 when the thumb screw 222 is absent and thus damage the mechanism. Likewise, in order to safeguard against excessive cranking of the drum 52 when its motion is not limited by the engage-'- ment of stop ||4, as when no shutter is on the drum, the rib 12 strikes the lug or stop 15 to prevent damage to the spring 2|0 due to over'- winding.

There is herein illustrated and described, in accordance with the patent laws, a single embodiment of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art, upon reading of the above description and inspection of the drawing, will readily have suggested to them many modications and will readily adapt the teachings of the invention to reading-teaching and other` devices which, although far diierent in appearance and operation, nevertheless are adapted to incorporation of some or all of the inventive improvements herein described. Therefore, the scope ofthe invention shall not be deemed to be limited by the particular machine herein described but shall be dened only by the attached claims.

A divisional application Serial No. 322,789, led November 26, 1952, claims subject-matter which is disclosed, but not claimed, herein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reading-training device, in combinae tion, a rotatable drum, a iiexible shutter member mutually .engaged fastening means on the drum and on the inner portion of `the shutter member .disengageable by radially outward motion o f said inner portion of ,the shutter from the drum, means coupled lto the drum operable to rotate the `drum in a direction -to unwind .the shutter from the drum, and a removable stop member `engaging the drum to-x an extreme unwinding rotational position of the drum short of the ,position wherein the fastening means are at the point of tangency of the shutter -to the drum, whereby the `inner .end of the shutter remains in xed position on'the drum when the removable stop member is in place, Abut may be removed from the drum for replacement by contained unwinding rotation thereof upon removal of said stop member.

2. In a reading-training device, in combina.- 7

tion, a housing, a drum journalled in the housing, a flexible shutter member wound upon the drum and having the outer end thereof extending tangentially from the drum through -the housing and vhaving transversely spaced apertures near the inner end thereof, lugs protruding from the drum and engaging said apertures in the shutter to x the position of the inner end of the shutter upon the drum, a rst stop member limiting rotation of the .drum in the direction vof winding the shutter on the drum, means coupled to Vthe drum operable to rotate the drum at manually variable constant speed in a direction to -un- Wind the shutter from the drum, and a removable stop member affixed to the housing and engaging the drum and limiting rotation of the .drum in the direction of unwinding the shutter Vfrom the drum, the rotational path of the drum between the limits imposed by said stop members .excluding the position wherein the lugs are at the point .of tangency of the shutter to the drum, whereby the inner end of the shutter re.- mains in xed position on the A.drum when the removable stop member is in place, but may be removed from the drum for replacement without yopening the housing by continued unwinding rotation of the drum upon removal of said re:- movable stop member.

3. In a reading-training device, in combina;- tion, a frame, a guide piyoted .on the frame, a lineeindicating member, means for driving .the line-indicating member over the guide, a read.- ing material support, and cooperating support means on the frame and on the reading material support for supporting the inner end .of the i reading material support at selectable varying distances below the pivotal axis of the guide, the .outer end of the reading material support being free to rest on a table or other support upon which the device 4is placed.

41.-, The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein the coeperatine support .means support the inner end of the reading material support along an rarc vto maintain eonstant the relative longitudinal position of the guide and the reading material support.

A54111 a reading-training devise, in combinetion, a housing, a guide 4pivoted on the vhonu ing, a line-indicating member, means .or driving .the line-indicating member over the guide, and ,e reading material support beneath the lguide hey.- ing one end pivoted on the housing and the .o p- -posite end free and adapted to rest o na table or ,other support upon which the reading-,teaming device is placed.

6. In a reading-training device, in combina.- tion, a shutter, a rigid guide supporting v,said shutter, said shutter being slideable .over the guide, a member projecting from .the .surface of the shutter, and a fixed stop member engaging said projecting member to x a terminal position of the shutter, said vstop member ,having an OffSet portion closely clearing said projection, whereby abutment of the projection against the offset por.- tion prevents the application of bending torque to the shutter.

7. In a reading-.training device, in combina.- .tion a shutter guide comprising opposed :enannel lmembers having an upper web and .a lower web extending nfurther inward than the upper web, .a ilexible `shutter member having its side edges resting on the lower webs of the yezhanrlel members, the width of the shutter being less than .the space between the upper webs ofy ohannel members but greater than the space between the lower webs, means for `.irivine the shutter member over the guide, and a rigid .bar affixed transversely of :the `,iiexilule shutter and having its ends slideably engaged between respective vupper Aand lower webs, whereby the .shutter is prevented from sagging but may be removed from the guide merely bv -diseonneotion of the shutter from the bar;-

8 In a readingetraining device .comprising Aa .heusina a shutter guide extending .from the housing, a shutter, and means within the housing for driving the shutter over the guide, the Aimproved construction wherein the shutter guide Consists of two parallel side members and .an outer end member affixed thereto, .and there are provided veooperating mounting means on the inner ends of the side members and on the nous,- ing disengageable by vrelative Vmotion of the side members7 and a .shutter stop engaging and .er- -tending between the side members ,and longitudinally slideable thereon, whereby sliding of the shutter ,stop to the 4outer end of the guide permits disengagement of the guide from the housing- J- MCMASTER- References Cited in the file Of `this patent .UNlTED .STATES PATIENTS 

